Wednesday, 6 October 2010

Hot Stuff

Can it be true, that we're well into October already? Well the calendar tells me so and the weather pretty much confirms it, too. I hope you all had a good weekend? Our weekend was a lovely, laid back one, once we actually made it to the West Country that is. There was a spot of research (what else would you call reading quilt mags) accompanied by a fine hot chocolate in my £1 vintage china mug...

...all partaken in front of a log fire in the inglenook. Ummm, cosy.

But it wasn't all just laziness, you know. What do you need for a log fire? Why, logs of course!

Well that's a mighty flattering photo, Mr HenHouse. Only the thought of Sunday lunch in our local kept me going!

Back at HenHouse quilting HQ, some folks are really busy. That would be me. When I nip out for a minute, some ginger furry friends decide to get decidedly lazy though and hamper my progress. Shooooo!

Charlie Boy was most affronted to be shifted from what he had only briefly discovered was a mighty cosy spot. I gifted him yet another wool blanket from my stash and installed it in his latest favourite spot in front of the window on my table. And there he has pretty much stayed. It's a hard life, eh?

Another quilt has come into being, at the request of a lovely lady who asked me to incorporate some of her own Cath K fabric squares into a much larger quilt. And so, the fancy flowers quilt was born. Oh soooooo snuggly!

Plenty of Cath K (I knew that stash would come in useful) has been partnered with pretty floral prints and some vintage embroidery. And polka dots of course, where would we be without polka dots, I ask you. Before any of you say, but Hen, you're soooo quick at quilting, this beauty took me a good while, I can tell you!

Now may I present to you some more furry friends who moved in a few months ago. Meet Flora and Violet. I supplied the very talented Nicky with some yummy vintage fabric from Donna et voila. The blogging community at its best!

Aren't they the cutest things?

Meanwhile, although might I confess I have indeed started my Christmas quilts, I thought I' d have a change from quilting (my bones are getting achy from all that bending, sandwiching and pinning on the floor). It's not long now until the next couple of super fairs I will be attending and as half term wipes out half of October, I thought I'd better come up with the goods, so to speak. So it was back to my good friend, the vintage fabric patchwork squares. A couple of cushions are ready to sew but I fancied something else, too.

In keeping with the warm and cosy theme, I know I wouldn't be without my hot water bottle once the temperatures drop. I confess, it is actually one of those marvellous pouchy things you bung in the microwave for a couple of minutes, rather than the real boiling water variety. And what's a hot and cosy thingymajig without a beautiful cover to keep it company?

I'll be whizzing up a batch of these to take to the fairs, I thought they'd be a nice gift idea. And I ask you, who deserves a gift more than me? Ah, I'll have the prototype then, many thanks!

Hi Hen....my, my, they do look so pretty an cosy!I love the hottie cover!I'm taking my st Johns wort now, this time of year brings on the old S.A.D it drains me....I just want to hibernate....an open fire would be right up my street!Lovely blog post as always!xxx

Goodness so much lovelyness to comment on your ginger cats made me smile just like my timmy they are with their paws over the faces ;-) I love the quilts and the hot water bottle cover is just so lovely. And the little bears are just so very cute. Love your polka dot apron to, what a lovely post. Dee

All of it is utterly gorgeous Hen (especially the outdoorsy girl one!). I adore your patchwork hot water bottle cover - I have to admit mine is of the boiled water variety and my cover makes all the difference. Loving all of the fabrics and crochet and quilting!Love Kate, xxooxx.

Hen what a lovely quilt - it would take me forever - What do they say about logs they heat you twice once while you put them away and the second time on the fire. But I love doing it - its just one of the lovely things to do at this time of year.Love the hot water bottle cover so pretty to take to bed with you.Jillx

A visit to your blog always puts a smile my face.The log fire looks very tempting indeed, your new furry friends are so very cute and the new hottie covers are really beautiful, I'm sure they will be in great demand.Charlie boy's expression is just priceless.

Oh Hen, warm fires, hot chocolate, fabulous cosy quilts and a beautiful hotwater bottle? You have made me SO ready to batten down the hatches and curl up for an afternoon nap... and it's not even midday yet...sigh! xxp.s. Visiting your blog is like receiving a big warm hug - I LOVE it!

I love your site/blog...Susan aka Notquitejunecleaver mentioned it...Bravo!!!What thrilled me was seeing prints in your quilting, etc. that are the same as pieces in many items I have, mostly from my grandmother. Lovely, thank you for sharing!

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About Me

Hello and thank you for visiting the HenHouse. I'm a stay-at-home thirty-something mum looking after Mr HenHouse and the Munchkin, aged 13 (going on 18). We also have a gorgeous and very spoiled ginger tom, Charlie Boy. Sadly we had to say goodbye to our two other furry boys this year. We have recently moved from the city to our dream home in the West Country. I have always loved vintage and have collections of eiderdowns, china and fabrics to name just a few. I love sewing and am an avid patchworker and quilter. As a family, we are dotty about the past and love the 1940s, often dressing up for re-enactment events. To fund my fabric habit, I sell handmade items in my Etsy shop. I'm pretty nutty about interiors, too and our homes have been featured in various magazines.